it's funny, since i moved here, and i don't have many tools at all, i enlist the help of my gf's brother. he is a very experienced mechanic, he always looks at me like "wtf?". especially in regards to the fact that i have no tools, and i hadn't changed my own oil until this year.

i would always find dealerships offering an oil change for under $5. didn't have a decent jack, didn't have access to a pit, and oil is expensive. he has a pit in his driveway, it's really nice.

anyways, i'll definitely be using his help w this project. sanding, soldering, and wiring galore.

so i did the big 3 upgrade this weekend. when i took the battery out and unbolted battery box/holder, i see the existing wire that runs from the battery negative to frame to engine ground. i see that it is bolted onto the frame (as it should be), but i also see that it is completely severed at the engine ground.

there was no point in leaving it in. i sanded the spot on the frame down to bare, shiny metal, i ran 1/0 awg from the engine ground to the frame. i ran 1/0 awg from the same spot on the frame to the battery negative. and 1/0 awg from alternator positive to battery positive. when idling, the voltage now reads 14.4v, it used to read 14.0v/14.1v.

great success!

next weekend's project is to make a new ground connection in the rear for the 2 amps. 1/0 awg to the frame, drill a hole, put a grommet/bushing in, run the 1/0 awg wire through, into a distribution block in the trunk, 4 awg out to each amp.

So both CD players are out in my 2003 Ford Explorer and my wifes 2006 Yukon. Radio works fine but the CD players are jammed and I'm thinking its because of the 6 CD holder in the radio. I want to replace both of them with a nice CD player that's not too expensive so what's recommended.